2013 Saints - Free Agency Targets

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Originally Posted by jeanpierre
I think the biggest issue will be do we stay with Spagnuolo and the 4-3 or buy into a 3-4 using Martez Wilson (Jack), Curtis Lofton (Mike), David Hawthorne (Sam), and Jonathan Casillas/Will Herring (Will)?!?
If ...

I think the biggest issue will be do we stay with Spagnuolo and the 4-3 or buy into a 3-4 using Martez Wilson (Jack), Curtis Lofton (Mike), David Hawthorne (Sam), and Jonathan Casillas/Will Herring (Will)?!?

If we go 4-3, we still are going to have to replace Sedrick Ellis and Will Smith (Salary Cap & Declined Play)...

Don't forget about Chamberlain.

He played well for the Rams last season as an OLB, and he looked really good in the preseason before his season ending injury. He seemed fast on the field and made some nice tackles in the running game if my memory serves me right.

I think the biggest issue will be do we stay with Spagnuolo and the 4-3 or buy into a 3-4 using Martez Wilson (Jack), Curtis Lofton (Mike), David Hawthorne (Sam), and Jonathan Casillas/Will Herring (Will)?!?

If we go 4-3, we still are going to have to replace Sedrick Ellis and Will Smith (Salary Cap & Declined Play)...

Good point. If we convert to a 3-4 we already have our front 3 in Jordan, Bunkley, Hicks, and we can field a decent set of LB's.

He played well for the Rams last season as an OLB, and he looked really good in the preseason before his season ending injury. He seemed fast on the field and made some nice tackles in the running game if my memory serves me right.

Oh, and he already played in Spags' system in St. Louis.

Chamberlain would be an undersized Linebacker in a 3-4 system; but could he play Strong Safety? Doubt it...

If we stay in a 4-3 Defense, he's expected to push in the WLB spot and play special teams, again one of Steve's guys...

Chamberlain would be an undersized Linebacker in a 3-4 system; but could he play Strong Safety? Doubt it...

If we stay in a 4-3 Defense, he's expected to push in the WLB spot and play special teams, again one of Steve's guys...

Well, only Herring has more size than Chamberlain out of the Saints' current LB corps, so if we are talking about converting into a 3-4 and doing it with the current roster - he'd be a valid candidate for that OLB position. And in any case, he has enough size to work as an OLB, because there are other LBs around the league who have been successful at that position who were either similar or smaller in size than Chamberlain. I think it's more of a case if his skill-set fits that role, and he seemed fast, agile enough to cover receivers if need be, and a sure tackler, so based on that I'd say he could work in this new position.

Naturally, Wilson would be a clear choice to be moved back to the LB position under the conversion, but other than him, the Saints really don't have prototypical 3-4 OLB linebackers.

"I don't think I'll be thinking at all. I think I'm just gonna go out there and play my balls out" - Martez Wilson | "I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

What about
OLB Daryl Smith from the Jags.
He only played twice last year due to injury but if he has recovered he should`nt cost too much at his age and coming off a injury.He could help next year and would let us target some of the other needs.

Terrance Knighton (JAC) Nose Tackle

Israel Idonije (CHI) - DT -
Idonije signed a 1 year, $2.5 million deal to remain with the Bears after a disappointing 5-sack season. With the Bears he's been asked to play more at defensive end, but he's a pass-rusher that can get home from the outside or inside. He seems to love playing for the Bears, but with the infusion of talent on the defensive line, he could probably see more playing time elsewhere.

Sean Smith (MIA) - After trading another up-and-coming corner and former first round pick in Vontae Davis, the Dolphins showed confidence and placed a lot of stock in their long corner Sean Smith. If there's anything his career has shown so far, it's been inconsistency. If Smith gets everything to click for an entire season, he surely has Pro Bowl capability. Miami seems almost a lock to retain Smith, but the quality and consistency of his 2012 season will go a long way in determining the size and length of his contract.

Quentin Jammer (SD) - For the past 7+ years, Quentin Jammer has been among the most underrated defensive backs in the league. As one of the most consistent cover corners, he's hardly gotten so much as a Pro Bowl mention to his name. Now with a contract expiring, Jammer will be 34 as the 2013 season begins. He's signed his last big contract, but despite struggling a bit last year, there is still quality play in front of Jammer.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (PHI) - After trading for him in the infamous Kevin Kolb trade (which is now being re-evaluated), the Eagles traded their Pro Bowl corner Asante Samuel, propelling DRC into a start boundary corner position. He has the length and speed to challenge top receivers downfield, but has struggled consistently covering more polished receivers. He's hardly a top flight corner, but he's the only starting corner the Eagles have opposite Nnamdi Asomugha.

Dashon Goldson (SF) - Goldson had the best season of his career for the opportunistic 49ers defense. Reeling in 6 interceptions and a fumble recovery of his own, Goldson not only provided the Niners with much needed turnovers, but helped prevent big plays in the backend with strong discipline. With the amount of volatility and up-and-down play at the safety position in the league, it's hard to fault the Niners for not coming to some sort of compromise after last year. However, with Goldson coming strong out of the gates again, it seems that's he'll earn an extension after this year.

LaRon Landry (WAS) - Signing a 1 year, $3.5 million deal with the Jets coming off an Achilles injury, Landry received the quintessential "prove it" contract. Now losing Darrelle Revis to injury, the Jets safeties will again be truly tested and Landry will have to help hold the secondary together. If he can make it through the year in the good graces of the team, he'll be in position to earn a bigger payday. Still, with his history of injury and inconsistency, another long-term lucrative payday does not appear to be forthcoming from New York or anywhere else.

Jairus Byrd (BUF) - After a rookie season littered with fortunate passes thrown directly his way, Byrd's interception totals have normalized. Whereas the interceptions are no longer coming in bunches, Byrd has improved his game in other areas to become one of the league's better safeties. With great range and anticipatory skills in center field, Byrd is reliable free safety capable of forcing quarterbacks to hold the ball and double check his position on the field before throwing the deep ball. In a pass-heavy league, one of the best young safeties in the game should be high on the Bills' priority list this season.

Out of your list, Byrd is someone I'd sign in a heartbeat, but I just can't see Buffalo not retaining him, and if he hits the open market I'm afraid the Saints might not have the chips to enter the bidding war.

Other than him, I'd take a stab at R-C if he became available simply based on his size alone, and I think he might do well in a zone scheme, but again I think the Eagles are going to re-sign him or someone else is going to offer him big money.

GM Loomis should already be announcing some contract renegotiations if we are going to have any chips to bid in free agency...

I don't think it'll be as bad as it seems now - but we don't have much wiggle-room here...

I'd be over the moon even if they "only" got Michael Johnson out of Cincy, because it would allow the Saints to maybe use their 1st rounder to get an LT, but he might be out of the Saints' price-range.

And like you've already said, Melton and/or Knighton could provide depth and strength at the DT position, and best of all maybe even fairly cheaply. Well, maybe not Melton, but a lot depends on what they are going to do in Chicago under the new HC, whoever he might end up being, and how that affects their defensive lay-out. Knighton would be a good guy to have around for running downs, but my understanding is that he is not that good at creating interior push... I could be misinformed.

And Dorsey might be another prospect for DT depth, but I have my doubts whether he would be a good fit with the Saints and Spags' system - he might end up being another Shaun Rogers.

"I don't think I'll be thinking at all. I think I'm just gonna go out there and play my balls out" - Martez Wilson | "I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

Well, only Herring has more size than Chamberlain out of the Saints' current LB corps, so if we are talking about converting into a 3-4 and doing it with the current roster - he'd be a valid candidate for that OLB position. And in any case, he has enough size to work as an OLB, because there are other LBs around the league who have been successful at that position who were either similar or smaller in size than Chamberlain. I think it's more of a case if his skill-set fits that role, and he seemed fast, agile enough to cover receivers if need be, and a sure tackler, so based on that I'd say he could work in this new position.

Naturally, Wilson would be a clear choice to be moved back to the LB position under the conversion, but other than him, the Saints really don't have prototypical 3-4 OLB linebackers.

on the other side of Wilson... why not junior. He has the size and speed to play the position.

on the other side of Wilson... why not junior. He has the size and speed to play the position.

I really have my doubts about that... wasn't the biggest concern about him earlier that he seemed to be a really slow learner under GW, which was why it took him a while to really become a contributor of any real level?!

He does have Clay Matthews type of size, but I really think he might struggle with some of the lateral movement needed at that position along with the higher requirements of play-reading ability that 3-4 OLB position has.

I really doubt Galette would be the answer next to Wilson, but again, that is only my humble opinion.

"I don't think I'll be thinking at all. I think I'm just gonna go out there and play my balls out" - Martez Wilson | "I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno